The union representing nurses and nurse anesthetists at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital issued a statement Thursday supporting the state approval of Tenor Health Foundation’s application to acquire and operate the hospital. “After years of instability, caregivers and patients at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital deserve leadership focused on community needs, not short-term profit.”PASNAP represents more than 250 members of the Wyoming Valley Nurses Association at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the Wyoming Valley Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Association at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Wilkes-Barre General Hospital opened in 1872 as Wilkes-Barre City Hospital, and the name changed to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in 1925. The hospital was sold to Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc. in 2009. Tenor said in a statement earlier this week it “stands ready to conclude the transaction and to successfully operate” the Commonwealth Health hospitals after receiving state approval.